Read more about the article TPA Leads Coalition of Watchdog Groups to Fight the Return of Earmarks

TPA Leads Coalition of Watchdog Groups to Fight the Return of Earmarks

Today (April 11), the Taxpayers Protection Alliance led a coalition of dozens of watchdog groups (read letter here) to urge members of Congress to not bring back earmarks. On March 30, 2012, Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) floated the idea to bring back earmarks. According to a Reuters article, “In a closed-door meeting with fellow Republicans, [Mike] Rogers recommended reviving a proven legislative sweetener that became politically toxic a year ago. Bring back earmarks, Rogers, who was first elected to Congress in 2002, told his colleagues.” Reps. Kay Granger (R-Texas), Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) and Steven LaTourette (R-Ohio) agreed with Rogers that earmarks should be re-institutionalized. "You can't get 218 votes and part of that has to be if you can't give people (earmarks), you can't take anything away from them," said LaTourette. These comments prove what most taxpayers already know: Earmarks are nothing more than legal bribes to buy the votes of members of Congress who don’t have the brains to think for themselves or the backbones to stand up for their beliefs.

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Read more about the article Prop 29 is a Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing for California Taxpayers and Consumers

Prop 29 is a Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing for California Taxpayers and Consumers

California is known for trend setting such as ham and pineapple pizza and surfing. Unfortunately, California is also becoming known for other trends, ballot propositions. One of the latest propositions, Proposition (Prop) 29 might be a wolf in sheep’s clothing. If the proposition passes California’s tobacco tax will increase by $1.00 per pack, making the total tax $1.87 per pack. The additional revenue is supposed to be used for cancer research, smoking reduction programs, and tobacco law enforcement. In reality, the additional revenue will be used to expand an already bloated bureaucracy and do nothing to help the state out of its financial mess. The federal government already spends $6 billion a year on cancer research and any research on a serious disease like cancer should be coordinated at the national level rather than a patchwork of research done at the state level.

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Read more about the article GSA’s Las Vegas Party Gives Taxpayers a Hangover

GSA’s Las Vegas Party Gives Taxpayers a Hangover

A trip to Las Vegas for a crazy weekend can be fun, but too much indulgence can cause a monumental hangover. In 2010, when the General Services Administration (GSA) held a conference in Henderson, Nevada, (just south of Las Vegas) their party left taxpayers with an $800,000 hangover. Some refer to GSA as the federal government’s landlord, but the GSA’s website says that the agency provides “centralized procurement for the federal government, offering products, services, and facilities that federal agencies need to serve the public. GSA offers businesses the opportunity to sell billions of dollars worth of products and services to federal agencies.” And, as many federal agencies do, they hold regular conferences for information sharing and team building. What happened in Vegas went well beyond normal conference specifications as attendees stayed in fancy hotels and dined on expensive food. And remember, this all happened during national debates about spending cuts and raising the debt ceiling.

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Read more about the article House Republicans Talk About Bringing Back Earmarks

House Republicans Talk About Bringing Back Earmarks

On March 30, 2012, Reuters published an article “House Republicans discuss reviving earmarks,” that some taxpayers thought was an early April Fool’s Day joke. According to the article, “In a closed-door meeting with fellow Republicans, [Mike] Rogers recommended reviving a proven legislative sweetener that became politically toxic a year ago. Bring back earmarks, Rogers, who was first elected to Congress in 2002, told his colleagues.” He was not alone. “Rogers' remarks in the closed caucus meeting in early March were echoed by two other Republican lawmakers, Representatives Louie Gohmert [Texas] and Kay Granger [Texas], according to some at the meeting.” The sad truth is that Rep. Rogers (et al) said what many Republicans (and Democrats) have been thinking.

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Read more about the article April Fools! United States Has Highest Corporate Tax Rate

April Fools! United States Has Highest Corporate Tax Rate

Yes, today as many people try to outwit their friends and family with April Fools jokes, Japan has lowered their corporate tax rate leaving the United States with the highest corporate tax rate (a true joke on American businesses, consumers and taxpayers). According to an op-ed by Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wy.) on Foxnews.com, “As of Sunday, April first, the United States will have the highest corporate tax rate in the world. This new record is not something that would make most Americans proud. We take the title as Japan cuts its tax rate by five percent. America’s business tax rate now tops out at 35 percent. Add state taxes and American job creators face a median rate of 39.2 percent. The United States was in the middle of the pack when we last changed our rates in 1993. Since 2000, however, 30 of the world’s leading developed countries -- looking to boost their economies -- have cut their rates.” Inaction by Congress and the White House to lower the rate will have disastrous effects on the recovery of a frail economy. Check out this short video by the RATE Coalition.

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Read more about the article Taxpayers Spend $2.7 Billion to Subsidize March Madness Venues

Taxpayers Spend $2.7 Billion to Subsidize March Madness Venues

(Drew Johnson is a Senior Fellow at the Taxpayers Protection Alliance) This weekend (and Monday) is the culmination of one of the most exciting annual sports tournaments, The Final Four. The past three weeks was a showcase of the best of sports. Unfortunately this year’s installment of the Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament has also featured some of the worst examples of wasteful government spending in America. Each of the 13 stadiums and arenas that hosted 2012 tournament games have ripped off taxpayers for millions of dollars. All told, the venues have burned through a combined $2.7 billion in tax money. Taxpayers have subsidized everything from the construction, to the renovation, to the operational expenses of these arenas in a variety of forms: state and local grants, land giveaways, favorable lease arrangements, federal disaster relief funding and every type of taxpayer-funded bond imaginable.

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Read more about the article National First Ladies Museum Puts Taxpayers Last

National First Ladies Museum Puts Taxpayers Last

(Drew Johnson is a Senior Fellow at the Taxpayers Protection Alliance) Most people who find themselves in Canton, Ohio, first wonder why they’re in Canton, then make a quick stop at the Pro Football Hall of Fame and finally get out of the wilting rustbelt town as quickly as possible. Few of the town’s visitors are aware that Canton is home to a dubious federally-funded tourist trap. They’re in good company. Many Canton residents don’t even know that the National Park Service-managed First Ladies National Historic Site sits right in the middle of the city’s downtown. Just because most Americans have never heard of the First Ladies National Historic Site doesn’t mean they’re not paying for it. Congress makes a habit of showering the failing museum with over $1 million in federal tax money every year. Since it opened in 2000, the museum has managed to burn through more than $10 million in taxpayers’ money while attracting fewer visitors than an Apple Store in Amish Country.

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Read more about the article Just Say NO! to Tax Increases in Maryland

Just Say NO! to Tax Increases in Maryland

Elected officials at the state and federal level have two choices to balance budgets, spending cuts and/or tax increases. Maryland is no different as it faces a $1 billion debt and debates next year’s budget. Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley has talked about a number of tax increases to cover the shortfall including gas, tobacco, and alcohol. It is irresponsible for any state legislator or Governor to advocate for any tax increases. The only responsible way to balance any budget is through spending cuts. Tax increases excuse and encourage continued irresponsible spending by the state and weaken an already frail economy. Even state officials agree with avoiding tax increases. According to WMAL “Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot tells WMAL.com that the legislature's ‘focus [is on] on the state budget. They're not focused on the Maryland economy. The Maryland economy is in a very weak form of recovery.’ Franchot says to raise taxes now would damage the state's economic recovery. ‘My advice as chief fiscal officer is for them to not raise taxes. We're spending too much. We're taxing too much. We're borrowing too much. My goodness, we're almost over whatever maximum limits we had on borrowing,’ he said.”

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Read more about the article test

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Elected officials at the state and federal level have two choices to balance budgets, spending cuts and/or tax increases. Maryland is no different as it faces a $1 billion debt and debates next year's budget. Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley has talked about a number of tax increases to cover the shortfall including gas, tobacco, and alcohol. It is irresponsible for any state legislator or Governor to advocate for any tax increases. The only responsible way to balance any budget is through spending cuts. Tax increases excuse and encourage continued irresponsible spending by the state and weaken an already frail economy. Even state officials agree with avoiding tax increases. According to WMAL "Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot tells WMAL.com that the legislature's 'focus [is on] on the state budget. They're not focused on the Maryland economy. The Maryland economy is in a very weak form of recovery.' Franchot says to raise taxes now would damage the state's economic recovery. 'My advice as chief fiscal officer is for them to not raise taxes. We're spending too much. We're taxing too much. We're borrowing too much. My goodness, we're almost over whatever maximum limits we had on borrowing,' he said."

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Read more about the article Rep. Ryan Ups the Ante in Latest Round of Budget Poker

Rep. Ryan Ups the Ante in Latest Round of Budget Poker

The republicans in the House of Representatives and the White House have been playing a game of budgetary poker for the past two years and taxpayers have been paying the price. House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan’s (R-Wisc.) fiscal year (FY) 2013 budget was the next card played in this high stakes game. In FY 2012, Rep. Ryan showed his cards and went all in with spending cuts. This year Rep. Ryan continues his aggressive stance as he doubles down on tax cuts. All the meanwhile, the Senate has folded by not proposing a budget for more than 1,000 days. And, according to The Hill, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid doesn’t even seem bothered by their lack of work. “Senate Democratic leaders on Friday said they do not intend to bring a fiscal 2013 budget up for a floor vote. ‘We do not need to bring a budget to the floor this year — it's done, we don't need to do it,’ Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) told reporters on Friday.” Rep. Ryan addresses both spending and taxes as he ups the ante on America’s fiscal future.

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